University of Rhode Island

Graduate School of Oceanography

Hurricane Modeling Group

Our research interests focus on structure, variability and dynamics of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system from small to large space and time scales. We do mathematical modeling of those physical processes, which govern the behavior of the atmosphere and the oceans using theoretical and computer simulation methods.

Most recent research areas include tropical cyclone-ocean interactions, ocean model initialization and data assimilation; modeling of surfaces waves in hurricane conditions and their effects on air-sea interactions, numerical investigation of atmospheric boundary layer in very high winds, cumulative impact of tropical cyclones on the ocean climate.

We are actively involved in NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program and Joint Hurricane Testbed. Our research group has developed and implemented improvements to the ocean components of the operational hurricane forecast models (HWRF, GFDL, GFDN) used by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

We have been actively involved in the development of the educational, multi-disciplinary website Hurricanes: Science and Society, which has become a classroom tool for science educators nationwide. It plays an important role in the effort to educate both students and adults about the science and impacts of hurricanes and the importance of pre-hurricane planning and mitigation.